| Business management theories are all around us. Just | | | | laminate these, and have these at all of the |
| go to any book store and you will see all of the | | | | departments and work stations. The problem would |
| latest and greatest theories out there. Many of these | | | | arise when we would go to revise something. We |
| books are correct, and their theories did work. But it | | | | would then need to find all of the old documents, |
| was more because of the people that worked for | | | | remove these from the floor, throw these away, |
| them, or because of the company they worked for | | | | print new copies, laminate again, and redistribute. This |
| in general. We do not always have the power just to | | | | was such a waste of paper, laminate, and time. |
| go in and start implementing a new theory. But, we | | | | I setup a 6 computer kiosk stations and we now |
| are afforded the opportunity to change things when | | | | house all of these items on the intranet. It acts just |
| we actually know what we are looking for. | | | | like the internet, which everyone is familiar with, and |
| This is where Lean Manufacturing comes in. Now, I | | | | they can access this information from all over the |
| know, some of you may be reading this thinking you | | | | plant. Plus, if a revision is needed, we just update it |
| are not working in manufacturing or even production, | | | | from the admin side, and it populates everything right |
| so how can this apply to you. You see, lean is really a | | | | then and there. No more paper, laminates, or |
| business management theory. And, the one major | | | | anything else. We can even make updates from the |
| thing it goes into is knowing what the wastes are in | | | | floor. This solved many problems. |
| a company and removing them. | | | | So, it does not need to be in a manufacturing plant. |
| So, from a management perspective, this works. It | | | | Improvements can be done all over the place and in |
| shows the people that you are working with and the | | | | every business. The theory here is really one of |
| ones working for you that you are listening to their | | | | Lean, but it is in terms of making the work place a |
| problems and making their work environments better. | | | | better and smoother work place. Lean is adaptable to |
| What you are actually doing is finding out a problem | | | | any environment. You just need to know the |
| they have, which is really a waste of some sort, and | | | | specifics of lean, what to look for, and how to |
| then improving or removing the situation. | | | | implement it. And you would be surprised just how |
| One example I have done is with our procedures and | | | | easy it is. |
| controlled documents. We use to print these out, | | | | |